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Mark Delmege Laing

Professor, Plant Pathology, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences · University of KwaZulu-Natal

https://researchid.co/laingmd
@ukzn.ac.za
12504Google Scholar Citations
56Google Scholar h-index
258Google Scholar i10-index

Research Interests

Plant Pathology Plant Breeding Biological Control

Biography

Schooled in Zimbabwe, University education at the University of Natal. Appointed to the permanent staff in Plant Pathology in 1984, Senior Lecture in 1990, Associate Professor in 1998, Professor and Chair of Plant Pathology in 2000, Senior Professor in 2010, Professor Emeritus in 2023. Started the African Centre of Crop Improvement at the University of KwaZulu-Natal with Rockefeller and Gates Foundation funding (via AGRA), from 2002 - 2020, now operating with other funding sources. It has graduated over 130 PhD's and 23 MSc students from 20 African countries, breeding over 20 crops. Founder member of the International Society for Silicon in Agriculture

Education

BSc, BSc Honours, PhD - all at the University of Natal

Recent Google Scholar Publications

  1. Biocontrol Potential of Three Bacterial Strains, Isolated from Vermicompost, Against Pre-Emergence Damping-Off of Tomato Caused by Rhizoctonia solani, Under …
    Microorganisms 14 (2), 371 , 2026, 2026
  2. Biocontrol Potential of Three Bacterial Strains, Isolated from Vermicompost, Against Rhizoctonia solani on Tomato Under Laboratory and Greenhouse Conditions
    Preprints , 2025, 2025
  3. A review of the factors affecting bark quality of black wattle ( Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) in South Africa
    Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 87 (4), 151-161 , 2025, 2025 | Citations: 1.0
  4. Ultrastructural Examination of the Fungus‐To‐Fungus Interactions of Lecanicillium uredinophilum and Phakopsora pachyrhizi
    Plant‐Environment Interactions 6 (5), e70082 , 2025, 2025 | Citations: 1.0
  5. Evaluation of fifteen adjuvants for compatibility with Beauveria bassiana and their synergistic efficacy against Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks
    Acta Tropica, 107760 , 2025, 2025 | Citations: 1.0

Research Outputs

Two patents, one on wastewater management using a forced upflow bioreactor, and the other on the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Plectranthus hadiensis.

Grants / Consultancy

Many grants, both international and national. None

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